Coupling device for pipes or conduits



Jan. 12, 3%541 p sg 2,665,92fi

COUPLING DEVICE FOR PIPES 0R CONDUYITS Filed Mroh 6, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet1 ATTORNEY J. FRASER COUPLING DEVICE FOR PIPES OR CONDUITS Jan. 12, W54

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, .1951

INVENTOR' c7072): fladw ATTORNEY 1954 J. FRASER 2,6

COUPLING DEVICE FOR PIPES OR CONDUITS Filed March 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet3 I 1 l I I I I I III 46 Jan. 12, 1954 FRASER COUPLING DEVICE FOR PIPESOR CONDUITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 6, 1951 INVENTOI? 1757: J7me?ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1954 J. FRASER 2,665,926

COUPLING DEVICE FOR PIPES OR CONDUITS Filed March 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR 75222?) 1 7002?" ATTORNE Y Patented Jan. 12, 1954 COUPLINGDEVICE FOR PIPES OR CONDUITS John Fraser, Tolworth, England, assignor toAvery-Hardoll Limited, Tolworth, England Application March 6, 1951,Serial No. 214,100

7 Claims. (01. 28418) This invention relates to coupling devices forpipes or conduits, of the kind in which first and second coupling partsare provided respectively with first and second valve members whichclose the passages through the respective coupling parts when thoseparts are separated.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a coupling devicein which the interengagement of the coupling members and the opening ofthe valves can be rapidly effected in a single operation and without theexpenditure of great effort.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a coupling which causesonly a small pressure drop in the fluid flowing through it, and whichallows very little spillage of fluid during coupling and uncoupling.

According to the invention, in a coupling of the kind referred to thecoupling parts are interengaged by turning movement of one with respectto the other, the second valve member being automatically coupled withthe first coupling part when the coupling parts are brought together sothat the relative turning movement of the coupling parts forinterengaging them is accompanied by turning of the said second valvemember relative to the second coupling part, cam and follower mechanismbeing provided between the said second valve member and the secondcoupling part to produce axial movement of the said second valve memberinto the first coupling part during such relative turning movement,whereby said second valve member engages the first valve member anddisplaces it from its seat.

Further, according to the invention, a coupling device of the kindreferred to in which the second valve member, during its openingmovement, enters the first coupling part and displaces the first valvemember, is characterized in that cam and follower mechanism isinterposed between the second valve member and the second coupling partto effect axial movement of the said valve member during relativerotation of said valve member and coupling part, the second valvemember, when the coupling parts are brought together, being held againstrotation with respect to the first coupling part, so that continuationof a relative turning movement of the coupling parts, the initial partof which effects interengagement of the said parts, opens and closes thevalves.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of coupling device according to theinvention, the parts being separated; I

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the coupling shown in Figure 1 withthe parts separated;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the coupling shown in Figure 1 withthe arts coupled together and the valves open;

Figure 4 is a section on the line t-t of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a composite section, the upper half being on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2 and the lower half on the line ere-6a of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a partial section on the line 7-4? of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a scrap view looking from the righthand side of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 99 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a detail section on the line iii-4c of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is an elevation, with parts broken away, showing a packingdevice;

Figure 12 is a radial section through the packing device shown in Figure11; and

Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of couplingaccording to the invention, the coupling parts being brought togetherbut the valves remaining closed.

The coupling devices illustrated in the drawings are designed primarilyfor the connection of aircraft fuel tanks to fuel supply pipes on anaerodrome for refuelling aircraft, a hose being connected at one end byone such coupling to the supply pipe, and at the other end by anothersimilar coupling to the fuel tank to be filled.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the-drawings, the coupling device showntherein comprises a first part l5 and a second part it, the first part[5 being that which is mounted on the aircraft and connected to the fueltanks thereof, or secured to the fixed fuel supply pipe of the aerodromerefuelling system, whilst the part it is that which is connected to thehoses. For convenience of description, the ends of the said parts whichcome together when the parts are coupled are hereinafter termed theinner ends, the other ends being termed the outer ends.

The first coupling part l5 comprises a hollow body l1 having astraight-through passag l3, and having an external fixing flange ittowards its outer end. A second external flange 20 at the inner end ofthe body has bolted to it a ring 2! .-having a portion 22 which entersthe passage is and carries a packing ring 23 to form a fluid- 3 tightjoint therewith, the portion 22 of the ring 21 having a frusto-conicalinternal surface 23 to provide a valve seat which converges towards theinner end of the said part. The ring 2! also includes a sleeve-likeportion 25 formed with three equally spaced external lugs 26, and at thejunction of the frusto-conical surface 24 and the sleeve-like portion 25there is formed a flat shoulder 21 which faces the inner end of thepart. A hollow cup-like valve member 28, having a stem 29 guided in aboss 3!! supported by a spider 3! which is a sliding nt in the body I!and bears on a shoulder 32 therein, is urged towards the surface 24 by aspring 33 (Figure 2). The valve member 28 is formed in two parts heldtogether by screws 28 and clamping. between them a packing ring 3% whichengages the surface 24 when the valve is closed. The valve member 28 andthe boss 30 form together, when the, valve.

is open, as shown in Figure 3, a substantially in th guide tube 52, andis held in place by a grub screw 55. The guide tube 52 can be moved tothe position shown in dotted lines in Figure l, and can be secured ineither position by a screw clamp 56 (Figures 1, 2 and 6) which acts onthe split outer end of the guide tube, the screw clamp being operated bya handle 51.

A valve seat member 53 is mounted in the inner end of the inner sleeve31, the valve seat member being tubular and having an external flange 59intermediate its ends. The flange 59 rests on the end of the sleeve 31,the part of the member 58 on the outer side of the flange beingspigotted into the sleeve 3?, and passing through a packing ring 6%housed in a groove in the said sleeve. The valve seat member 58 isretained in position axiall by an internal rib 6| on the outersleeve 38,which rib overlaps ,the inner face of the flange 59. The part of thestreamlined unit. The passage B8 in the body is so shaped as to providea substantially uniform area of the passage when the valve is open.

The edge of the flange '28 is frusto-conical, tapering towards the outerend of the coupling part, and the edge of the ring 2| is alsofrustoconical, but tapers in the opposite direction. Between the flangesi9 and 20, the body H has a part 35 which has an external diameter equalto the maximum diameter of the flange 2c, and a frusto-conical surface36 leads up to the part 35 on the side nearest the flange 28. As will bedescribed hereinafter, the flange 2i! and the part 35 locate the body I!in the second part of the coupling device, and they provide spacedcircumferential locating surfaces the inner one of which makessubstantially only a line contact with the second coupling part, whilstthe outer one is led smoothly into the second part by the frustoconicalsurface 35. This arrangement ensures that the parts can be broughttogether without jamming even if they are not held in exact alignment.

The second coupling part It comprises inner and outer sleeves 37 and 38bolted together through flanges 39 and 40 formed thereon, the bolts 4!also securing in position a ring 42 formed with two lugs 13, 43supporting handles 5%, 44. The inner sleeve is formed with two spacedcircumferential ribs 45 and 46 which engage the inner surface of theouter sleeve, each of the ribs 45 and 46 being grooved to receive apacking ring 41 making a fluid-tight joint with the outer sleeve. A hoseadaptor G8 is rotatably mounted in the outer end of the innersleeve 3?,a ring of balls 49 (Figure 2) being housed in opposed grooves in thesleeve 3'? and adaptor 4-8, and a packing ring is provided at 59. Thering of balls 19 provides a thrust bearing which permits relatively freerotation of the sleeve 31 on the adaptor 48 even when a high fluidpressure is acting in the coupling device. The outer end of the adaptor48 is internally screw-threaded at 5 2 to receive a screw-threaded hoseend fitting.

A guide tube 52 for the coupling part [-5 is mounted externally on theouter sleeve 38, the guide tube being of such a diameter internally thatthe flange 20 and part 35 of the coupling part l5 are an easy fittherein. The guide tube is slidable on the outer sleeve 38, its normalposition being that shown in full lines in Figure 1 and in Figures 2 and3, in which position it is located by an L -shaped fitting 53 shown inFigure 2 and engaging a shoulder 54 on the sleeve 33. The fitting 53extends inwardly through a hole valve seat member 58 on the inner sideof the flange 59 is stepped externally at 62 (see Figure 12), and itsextreme end is chamfered internally at 63.

A valve member 64 is slidable in the valve seat member 58, the valve-member comprising a conical head which is flat at its inner end,'

and four radial wings 65 spaced apart as shown in Figure 6, the wingsextending towards the outer end of the coupling part it and being joinedat their outer ends by a skirt 6? which is a sliding fit in the innersleeve 37. The inner end face of the valve member B l is formed by aplate 68, separate from the main part of the valve member and securedthereto by screws 6d, a packing ring it, which, when the valve isclosed, enters the seat member 53, being clamped between the plate 88and the body of the valve member. The edge of the plate 68 is chamfered.

The valve seat member 58 is formed with pairs of inwardly directed lugsH, 7!, two opposed wings 66 on the valve member being each locatedbetween one pair of said lugs, so that the valve member 64 and seatingmember 58 are held against relative rotation. A bar 52 extendsdiametrally across the valve member 6 3 through holes 13 in the skirt 6?and a hole M in a web 75 formed by an extension of one pair of opposedwings 86, the bar carrying on its ends rollers "it which engage in camslots I? in the inner sleeve 3?. The cam slots H, as shown in Figures 2and 3, are substantially circumferential at their ends, thecircumferential portion I8 at the outer end of each slot being longerthan that at the inner end, the slots having intermediate inclinedportions which are steeper towards the inner end than adjacent the outerend. The bar 12 has cylindrical portions where it passes through theholes 113 and M, but its intermediate portions are cut away, as shown at79 in Figure 10, to reduce the obstruction to flow of fluid. The holes13 are elongated in the direction of the axis of the coupling, as shownin Figure 9, to permit slight tilting of the bar 12 without causingjamming of the valve member. A peg Si! driven into a hole in the skirt6? enters a slot 8! in the bar 72 to prevent rotation of the latter. Atthe inner end of the outer sleeve 33 there is formed an internal flange32, in which are out three equally spaced notches 83 (Figure 5) wideenough to permit the passage of the lugs 25 on the coupling part l5. Tothe flange 59 of the valve seat member 58 there is bolted an arcuatemember 84 having a lug 85 which projects through a notch in the flange,and a lug 85 which projects towards the inner end of the coupling part.The lug 85 co-operates with stops 8? and 88 (Figures and 6) formed onthe inner face of the rib E5 to limit the angular movement or the valveseat member 58 relative to the sleeves 3i and 38, and the lug 88provides, with any one of three notches 89 in the sleeve-like portion Eaof the ring 2| on the coupling part so, a means for interlocking theseat member 58 with the said coupling part I5 to hold them againstrelative rotation.

In order that the valve member 64 and valve seat member 58 of thecoupling part I6 may be locked against rotation relative to the sleeve37 at various positions or the valve, a latch pin 90 is slldably mountedin the ribs 15 and as of the inner sleeve 3! as shown in Figure 7. Thelatch pin engages with holes such as that shown at QI in the nange 59 tolock the parts together, and is controlled by an external handle 92which turns the pm as through a small angle, the handle projectingthrough a slot 93 formed betweenthe nange and the ring it, by offsettinga portion or the ring i2. At one end of its angular movement the handleengages a spring-loaded stud e 5 which tends to force the latch pin 90to the engaged position, and at the other end of its movement the nanulerides on to a fixed stud 95 disposed 1D. the opposite direction to thestud 94, the pm as being thus withdrawn and held clear or the holes cl.l 'igure 8 shows the slot 93 and. the studs as and 95 as seen from theoutside of the coupling.

The valve seat member 58 of the coupling part it carries a packingdevice 96 to provide fluidtignt ei'igagement, when the coupling partsare brought together, with the shoulder 2'! on the coupling part It.This packing device 96 is shown in detail in Figures 11 and 12, to whichthe following description refers. The packing device comprises acylindrical metal shell 91 having a thick internal flange at one end,the flange being grooved at 93 to receive a packing ring 89. The shellis shouldered internally at I00, and a washer lei in which are fixed anumber of pins 32 en gages the step. The pins pass through a secondwasher hi3, springs lil l being assembled on the pins between the twowashers. A second roundsection packing rin Hi5 provided between thewasher Inf and the flange of the shell fits closely between the valveseat member and the shell.

The end of the shell fits over the step 62 on the valve seat member 58,the packing device being retained in position by pins I06 on the member58 engaging bayonet slots III! in the shell, the slots being so formedas to permit limited axial movement of the shell. The pins I02 haveheads Hill which limit extension of the springs I04, notches I53 beingprovided in the step 62 to receive these heads.

When the packing device is mounted on the valve seat member the washerI63 rests on the step (if, and the springs I04, acting through thewasher lliI, urge the shell 91 inwardly. The packing ring Iilii, sinceit fits tightly between the valve seat member and the shell, preventsleakage therebetween. The axial movement of the packing device relativeto the valve seat member ensures that any coupling part I5 will make afluid-tight joint with any coupling part It regardless of slightdifferences in dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances.

When the coupling parts I5 and I5 are separate, the valves in both ofthem are closed. To couple them together, the coupling part I6 is heldby means of the handles t4 and is oiferer up to the coupling part I5.The latter enters the guide tube 52, the flange 20 entering smoothlyinto the guide tube even if the two arts are not accurately alignedsince the said flange tapers from its inner edge, and thus hassubstantially only a line contact with the guide tube. The portion 36 ofthe body of the coupling part I5 leads the guide tube on to the part 35.The lugs 26 engage the inner face of the flange 82, and rotation of thecoupling part IS with slight axial pressure on the latter will cause thelugs to register with, and enter, the notches 83 and engage the rib 6!.The coupling part can then be rotated through an angle defined by thestops 8'! and 88, the lugs 26 sliding between the flange 83 and the rib6i, and thus locking the parts against axial movement. When the lugs 26pass through the notches 83 the lug 86 enters one of the notches 89,thus holding the valve seat member 58, and consequently also the valvemember 64' against rotation, and the turning of the valve member Ittherefore causes relative angular movement between the valve member 64and the sleeve 31. The rollers 16 therefore travel along the cam slots'I'i from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure3, causing the valve member 64 to move axially into the coupling partI5, taking with it the valve member 28, and thus opening the passagethrough the coupling. During the initial part of the turning movementthe rollers are moving along the circumferential parts I8 of the camslots, and no axial movement of the valves takes place, so the lugs 26are out of register with the notches 83 and the parts are securedtogether before the valves begin to open. At the end of the valveopening movement the rollers enter the circumferential portions at theother ends of the cam slots, and the spring 25 has therefore no tendencyto force the rollers along the cam slots to close the valves. Theabovedescribed operations are reversed to separate the 7 coupling parts.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the meeting surfaces of the two couplingparts are substantially fiat, and they are arranged to come into contactor to be spaced by only a very small amount when the parts are broughttogether, so that very little air is entrained when the coupling partsare coupled, and very little liquid is lost when they are separated.

The guide tube 52 carries a rubber ring Ht around its end to protect itfrom damage and and also to prevent it from damaging anything with whichit may come in contact. The guide tube, when moved to the position shownin dotted lines in Figure 1 enables the coupling half It I to be matedwith the appropriate halves of certain other proposed types of couplingdevice.

The coupling shown in Figure 13 is similar in many respects to thatshown in Figures 1 to 12, but differs in a number of details. The figureshows the coupling with the parts brought together but before the valveshave commenced to open.

The fixed coupling part H5 generally similar to the body I l of thecoupling part E5, but the ring i2i which forms the valve seat has a flatinner face formed with a small annular rib I27. The ring has afrusto-conical surface I24 forming the seat for the valve member I 28,which has a stem I 29 guided in a boss I30 integral with a spider I 3Iand is urged to its closed position by a spring I33. In addition to thefixing flange H9 and an inner end flange I20, the part H5 has anintermediate flange I'M from which wings I35 extend towards has a bodyII? the outer end of the coupling part. The flange I20 has afrusto-conical edge as in the previous ly described example, and thewings i35 taper inwardly to the flange IN, thus providing the sameguiding effect as the part 3'6 of the body of the previously describedcoupling part I5. The flange I20 is notched at three equally spacedpoints, as shown at H3, The flanges H4 and I20 define between them agroove H2 which extends right round the coupling part. Ramps I34 areattached to the flange IM opposite to the notches H3.

The other coup-ling part l it comprises a tubular body I38 enlarged atits inner end to form a guide sleeve I52 which receives the couplingpar-t H5, and has rotatably mounted in its other end an adaptor M8 forthe attachment of a hose thereto. A ball thrust bearing I49 is providedas in the previous example, and a wheel-like handle, two spokes of whichare indicated at I44, is secured to a flange 140 on the body. I

A tubular insert I3! is fixed in the body I38, the insert having camslots Ill similar to the cam slots Ti in the sleeve 3? of the-previouslydescribed example, rollers I16 being provided on a bar I72 extendingthrough the skirt i c1 of a valve member Hi l, to co-operatewith the camslots. The valve member seats on a valve seat ring 158 resting on ashoulder its in the body, and located therein by set screws 4 55. Thevalve member I54 is held against rotation in the valve seat ring I53 inthe manner previously described.

The guide sleeve I52 carries internally three rollers I25 mounted onradially disposed spindles, and the valve seat ring I58 is formed with Iaxially projecting lugs I86. An annular groove I99 in the valveseat ringI53 houses a roundsection packing ring me, which is held in place bypunching the edge of the groove I98 inwardly at spaced points.

When the coupling parts lid and H6 are brought together, the rollers 12Epass through the notches H3 in the flange I29, and the lugs I85 enterthose notches, thus holding the valve seat ring I58 and valve member $64against rotation with respect to the coupling part i l5. Rotation of thecoupling part EIB therefore opens the valves as described in connectionwith the previous example, the rollers running along the groove H2 asthe parts are moved relatively to K each other. When the parts areuncoupled, the rollers IZt strike the ramps 133, giving an initialseparating impulse to the two coupling parts. The coupling device shownin Figure 13 is provided, as shown in the drawing, with packing rings toensure fluid-tight joints between the various elements of the respectivecoupling parts. Specific reference to these packing rings is notconsidered necessary to provide an adequate understanding of the device.

I claim:

1. A coupling device comprising first. and second tubular couplingmembers having mutually engaged mating ends, mutually co-operative lockmeans on said members interengaged by relative rotation of said couplingmembers to hold said ends in mating relation, a valve seat in the matingend of the first coupling member, a valve axially movable in said firstcoupling member, spring means biassing said valve to engage the saidends in mating relation, a valve seat in the of the second couplingmember, a valve axially movable and rotatable in said second couplingmember, a ring mounted for rotation in said second coupling member,first interengaging means.

coupling said ring and the valve in the second coupling member againstrotation relative to each other, second interengaging means detachablycoupling said ring and said first coupling member against rotationrelative to each other, cam and follower mechanism comprising a camelement and a follower element one of which elements is fixed in thesecond coupling member and the other of which is carried by the valve insaid second coupling member, and co-operating axial thrust transmittingsurfaces on said two valves, whereby relative rotation of the first andsecond coupling members causes rotation of the second coupling memberrelative to the valve in that coupling member to produce relativerotation of the cam and follower elements, and thereby move the valve inthe second coupling member axially, the axial movement of the said lastmentioned valve being transmitted through the thrust transmittingsurfaces to the valve in the first coupling member.

2. A coupling device comprising first and second tubular couplingmembers having mutually engaged mating ends, mutually co-operative lockmeans on said members interengaged by relative rotation of said couplingmembers to hold said ends in mating relation, 'a valve seat in themating end of the first coupling member, a valve axially movable in saidfirst coupling member, spring means biassing said valve to engage thesaid valve seat, a valve axially movable and rotatable in said secondcoupling member, a valve seat member rotatable in said second couplingmember, first interengaging means coupling said valve seat member andthe valve in said second coupling member against rotation relative toeach other, second interengaging means detachably coupling said seatmember and said first coupling member against rotation relative to eachother, cam and follower mechanism comprising a cam element and afollower element one of which elements is fixed in the second'couplingmember and the other of which is carried by the valve in said secondcoupling member, and (Jo-operating axial thrust transmitting surfaces onsaid two valves, whereby relative rotation of the first andsecondcoupling members causes rotation of the second coupling member relativeto the valve in that coupling member to produce relative rotation of thecam and follower elements and thereby move the valve in the secondcoupling member axially, the axial movement of the said last mentionedvalve being transmitted through the thrust transmitting surfaces to thevalve in the first coupling member.

3. A coupling device comprising first and second tubular couplingmembers having mutually engaged mating ends, mutually co-cperative lockmeans on said members interengaged by relative rotation of said couplingmembers to hold said ends in mating relation, a valve seat in the matingend of the first coupling member, a valve axially movable in said firstcoupling member,

' spring means biassing said valve to engage the said valve seat, avalve seat in the mating end of the second coupling member, a valveaxially movable and rotatable in said second coupling member, a ringmounted for rotation in said second coupling member, first interengagingmeans coupling said ring and the valve in the second coupling memberagainst rotation relative to each other, second interengaging meansdetachablycoupling said ring and said first coupling member againstrotation relative to each other, a cam element fixedly mounted in saidsecond coupling member, a follower element mounted on the valve in thesecond coupling member, and co-operating axial thrust transmittingsurfaces on said two valves, whereby relative rotation of the first andsecond coupling members causes rotation of the second coupling memberrelative to the valve in that coupling member to produce relativerotation of the cam and follower elements and thereby move the valve inthe second coupling member axially, the axial movement of the said lastmentioned valve being transmitted through the thrust transmittingsurfaces to the valve in the first coupling member.

4. A coupling member for a coupling device, comprising a body, a valveseat in said body, a valve rotatable in said body and axially slidabletowards and away from said seat, a cam element and a follower element,said follower element being movable axially by rotation relative to saidcam element, said valve carrying one of said elements, means fixing theother of said elements to said body, a ring mounted for rotation in saidbody, inter-engaging means coupling said ring and said valve againstrotation relative to each other but permitting axial movement of saidvalve, and means on said ring to engage a mating coupling member andhold said ring against rotation.

5. A coupling member for acoupling device, comprising a body, a valveseat member rotatable in said body, a valve rotatable in said body andaxially slidable towards and away from a seat on said valve seat member,a, cam element and a follower element, said follower element beingmovable axially by rotation relative to said cam body, interengagingmeans coupling said valve seat member and said valve against rotationrelative to each other but permitting axial movement of said valve,means on said valve seat member to engage a mating coupling member andhold said valve seat member against rotation, and an axial thrusttransmitting surface on said valve to engage a valve in said matingcoupling memher.

6. A coupling member as set forth in claim 4 wherein said valvecomprises an axial thrust transmitting surface for engaging a valve in amating coupling member.

7. A coupling member as set forth in claim 4 comprising a sealing memberresiliently mounted on and surrounding said valve seat for engagementwith a mating coupling member.

JOHN FRASER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,048,936 Kremser July 28, 1936 2,393,489 Trautman Jan. 22,1949 2,471,798 Thomas May 31, 1949 2,519,358 Davis Aug. 22, 19502,543,590 Swank Feb. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date854,220 France Jan. 4, 1940 859,331 France June 3, 1940

